🎯 What is Balatro?

Balatro is a roguelike deckbuilder where you build poker hands to score points and beat challenging blinds. Success depends on understanding hand values, multipliers, and synergies between cards and jokers.

🎲 How Scoring Works

Your score is calculated as: (Chips + Bonuses) × (Multiplier + Bonuses). Base hand values increase with levels, and jokers provide powerful multiplicative effects.

🚀 Why Use This Calculator?

Plan your strategies, compare hand values, understand joker synergies, and optimize your deck building decisions with precise calculations based on actual game mechanics.

⚡ Advanced Features

Our calculator includes hand leveling, accurate base values, joker bonuses, card enhancements, and detailed breakdowns to help you master every aspect of Balatro scoring.

📝 Step-by-Step Guide

1. Select Hand Type: Choose your poker hand from the dropdown
2. Set Base Values: Enter chips and multiplier for your hand
3. Adjust Level: Higher levels increase base chips and multiplier
4. Add Bonuses: Include joker bonuses and card enhancements
5. Calculate: Click calculate to see your final score and breakdown

🎴 Understanding Hand Levels

Each poker hand can be leveled up using Planet cards. Higher levels provide:

• Increased base chips (varies by hand)
• Higher base multiplier
• Better scaling potential
• More effective joker synergies

🃏 Joker Integration

Jokers are the heart of Balatro strategy:

• Chip Bonuses: Add flat chip values
• Multiplier Bonuses: Multiply your final score
• Conditional Effects: Trigger based on hand type, suits, or ranks
• Scaling Effects: Grow stronger over time

💎 Card Enhancements

Enhanced cards provide additional bonuses:

• Bonus Cards: +30 chips
• Mult Cards: +4 multiplier
• Wild Cards: Count as any suit
• Glass Cards: ×2 multiplier (fragile)
• Steel Cards: ×1.5 multiplier when held

🎯 Strategic Priorities

• Focus on Multipliers: Multiplicative scaling is more powerful than additive
• Level Key Hands: Invest planets in hands you play frequently
• Joker Synergy: Build around joker combinations rather than individual cards
• Flexible Builds: Don't lock into one hand type too early

⚖️ High vs Low Hands

High Hands (Flush+):

• Harder to make but higher base scores
• Fewer joker synergies available
• Good for late-game scaling

Low Hands (Pair, Two Pair):

• Easy to make consistently
• Many joker synergies
• Excellent early-game foundation

🔄 Scaling Strategies

• Early Game: Establish consistent hand types
• Mid Game: Focus on joker synergies and hand levels
• Late Game: Maximize multipliers and perfect your deck
• Endgame: Optimize for highest possible single-hand scores

💡 Pro Calculator Tips

• Use the calculator to compare different joker setups
• Test hand level investments before spending planets
• Calculate break-even points for risky strategies
• Plan around upcoming blind requirements
• Factor in joker rarity when making decisions